Gainforest’s Journey with ETH BiodivX at the XPRIZE Rainforest | Part 2: Community
Written by David Dao and Chona Billones
In our previous blog post, we have shared how crucial the XPRIZE competition has been in our very journey as an organization—and how this has led us to more opportunities, one of which is teaming up with other teams and ultimately forming what is now known as ETH BiodivX. We discussed the tech we developed for the XPRIZE, detailing our progress from the semi-finals up to now.
The XPRIZE is a global competition designed to inspire and support innovative solutions to pressing environmental challenges. It offers a platform for teams worldwide to showcase groundbreaking technologies and approaches to conserving our planet's precious ecosystems.
Our journey with XPRIZE has been more than just a competition; it has been an opportunity to engage deeply with local communities, co-create solutions, and empower Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) to lead conservation efforts.
Building on this foundation, today we are thrilled to continue our story by delving deeper into the capacity-building workshops we’ve conducted across Brazil in preparation for the XPRIZE finals — which is happening now, by the way! These workshops are not just about technology transfer; they are a testament to our commitment to inclusive learning, mutual respect, and the co-creation of solutions that empower IPLCs.
Capacity-Building workshops all around Brazil
In total, we at ETH BiodivX hosted 8 co-learning workshops, during which we received critical feedback from IPLCs on our approach, ensuring that the technology we develop is both inclusive and useful.
We are particularly proud of the workshops and software engineering led by our local members, who stepped into leadership roles after attending previous capacity-building sessions. This demonstrates that our technology is not only accessible but also transferable, highlighting the often untapped talent within IPLC groups.
The workshop content focuses on explaining advancements in technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), eDNA and drones and emphasizing the importance of frontier data and data sovereignty. The main goal of the workshops is mutual learning. Initially, our European members of ETH BiodivX host free-to-attend local capacity-building sessions to explain the basics of this technology, its applications in environmental monitoring, and how to take ownership while avoiding potential risks. Afterward, the communities are encouraged to try the technology themselves and provide critical feedback. Next, the communities are invited to join our team’s efforts in collecting equitable frontier data on Indigenous Knowledge, ensuring benefits sharing. If communities decide to join, we additionally showcase communities the benefit of web3 payments and onboard them with a Valora wallet to ensure provable payments. Lastly, selected community champions are onboarded by Gainforest and trained to become Indigenous data scientists, ensuring that the data and ownership is within the community.
Parque das Tribos, Manaus
The urban Aldeia Parque das Tribos is home to a population of 2,500 indigenous people from more than 30 different ethnic groups, including Munduruku, Witoto and Tucano People. In late January 2024, we collaborated with Parque das Tribos, led by Chief Ismael Munduruku, Vanda Witoto and many others, to conduct a two-day workshop focused on Artificial Intelligence for Nature. During this event, we introduced Taina, our inclusive AI assistant designed for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). Our team presented our approach and engaged in valuable discussions with community members. Key topics included data sovereignty, the risks of data colonialism, the importance of local empowerment, and the need for equitable benefit-sharing. Over 30 participants attended the workshop, each receiving compensation for their involvement.
Following the workshop, we extended an invitation to Parque das Tribos to become a governing member of our Indigenous Data Council, which they accepted. This partnership strengthens our commitment to inclusive AI development and ensures direct input from indigenous communities.
Aldeia Inhaâ-bé, Manaus
Aldeia Inhaâ-bé is a key member of our Indigenous Data Council and ETH BiodivX and consists of 30 inhabitants from ethnic groups including the Sateré-Mawé, Tikuna, Mura and Kokama People.
Since January 2024, we have conducted three capacity-building workshops. Marina Mura, a member of the Indigenous Council governing Inhaâ-bé, also chairs our Indigenous Data Council and serves as an executive member at ETH BiodivX. Over the past six months, Inhaâ-bé has tested our technology, providing invaluable feedback. For the workshops, ETH BiodivX supported the village by providing a Starlink connection, drones and audiomoths; and Aldeia Inhaâ-bé co-hosted riverside communities around Rio Negro in their village to join our workshops.
Santa Helena do Inglês
In April 2024, our team visited the local riverside community of Santa Helena do Inglês in Rio Negro to conduct a capacity-building workshop at the local primary school. We engaged with 20 enthusiastic pupils, teaching them about Taina, eDNA, and drone operation. The children were particularly fascinated by the drone demonstrations and eager to learn about the technology.
Following the workshop, we met with the local women's group called Ajuri Sustainable Arts, who graciously shared their knowledge and experiences with us. We learned how nature profoundly influences their art and culture, providing deep insights into the community's creative expressions and traditions. This enriching experience highlighted the strong connection between the local environment and the community’s artistic and cultural heritage, further emphasizing the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge into our team’s technology.
Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM)
After participating in co-design workshops in January and April in Inhaâ-Bé, Marina Mura and Gabriel Pirow have successfully transitioned to local technology leaders themselves. Demonstrating expertise and confidence, they conducted their own workshop on Taina and represented ETH BiodivX at the Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM) alongside Professors Veridiana Vizzoni Scudeller and Luciana Marques from the Botanic department. This workshop marks a significant milestone for our team, as it is the first time capacity-building workshops were conducted without the involvement of European team members from ETH BiodivX. More than 30 students from UFAM used Taina during the workshop, and the professor has expressed intentions to further integrate Taina into her curriculum.
Moving Forward: A Commitment to Collaboration, Innovation and Benefit Sharing
Our journey with the XPRIZE has been transformative, not just for our team but for the many communities we've partnered with across Brazil. The capacity-building workshops have proven to be more than just sessions of technology transfer; they have been venues of trust-building and partnership.
The collaboration with the IPLCs has been at the heart of our success. Their insights, leadership, and active participation have enriched our approach, ensuring that the solutions we develop are not only innovative but also respectful and beneficial to those who live in and protect these vital ecosystems. The positive feedback and enthusiasm we've received from the communities underscore the importance of this inclusive approach.
As we now move forward to the XPRIZE finals (and even beyond that!), we are more committed than ever to continuing this journey of collaboration and innovation. We are proud to announce that we have signed a Benefit Sharing agreement with our communities - and personally I’m looking forward for the years to come.
The experiences and lessons learned from our work with IPLCs will guide us in refining our technologies and strategies, ensuring that they are adaptable, scalable, and genuinely impactful.